Stevenwho does know quite a bit about Khelben's bloodline and relatives but can't say too much, as what'd be the fun in that?

Okay... revisiting this quickly... if lore regarding officially (canonically) deceased NPCs doesn't impact the IP, why can't lore regarding "dead-as-of-post-Spellplague" NPCs be freely discussed, NDA or not, especially if (as they have stated repeatedly) Wizbro is not interested in publishing anything regarding the unplagued Realms? I can, of course, see them changing their stance on this last point, given the apparent demand for such lore (as evidenced here at CK, for a start), and I suppose that answers my question, doesn't it? If not, please share any other answers you may have. Particularly if they relate to Khelben's extended family, esp. the Thann and Wands connections. Yes, I'm persistent. I suppose that all I can do is wait... but I've never liked waiting. In the meantime, whatever you can tell me that doesn't violate NDAs is greatly appreciated... however little that may be.

Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.

If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic.

Stevenwho does know quite a bit about Khelben's bloodline and relatives but can't say too much, as what'd be the fun in that?

Okay... revisiting this quickly... if lore regarding officially (canonically) deceased NPCs doesn't impact the IP, why can't lore regarding "dead-as-of-post-Spellplague" NPCs be freely discussed, NDA or not, especially if (as they have stated repeatedly) Wizbro is not interested in publishing anything regarding the unplagued Realms? I can, of course, see them changing their stance on this last point, given the apparent demand for such lore (as evidenced here at CK, for a start), and I suppose that answers my question, doesn't it? If not, please share any other answers you may have. Particularly if they relate to Khelben's extended family, esp. the Thann and Wands connections. Yes, I'm persistent. I suppose that all I can do is wait... but I've never liked waiting. In the meantime, whatever you can tell me that doesn't violate NDAs is greatly appreciated... however little that may be.

It's not necessarily an NDA, in this case. Keep in mind that friend Steven is a fan of leaving as many mysteries as he solves.

Stevenwho does know quite a bit about Khelben's bloodline and relatives but can't say too much, as what'd be the fun in that?

Okay... revisiting this quickly... if lore regarding officially (canonically) deceased NPCs doesn't impact the IP, why can't lore regarding "dead-as-of-post-Spellplague" NPCs be freely discussed, NDA or not, especially if (as they have stated repeatedly) Wizbro is not interested in publishing anything regarding the unplagued Realms? I can, of course, see them changing their stance on this last point, given the apparent demand for such lore (as evidenced here at CK, for a start), and I suppose that answers my question, doesn't it? If not, please share any other answers you may have. Particularly if they relate to Khelben's extended family, esp. the Thann and Wands connections. Yes, I'm persistent. I suppose that all I can do is wait... but I've never liked waiting. In the meantime, whatever you can tell me that doesn't violate NDAs is greatly appreciated... however little that may be.

It's not necessarily an NDA, in this case. Keep in mind that friend Steven is a fan of leaving as many mysteries as he solves.

It's both, I'm afraid.

I'm still tied to NDAs of long ago as well as the idea that it's better for you folks to have the freedom to make up what works for your campaigns.

Also, I'm well aware I've unwittingly stepped on other creatives' toes in the past by stating things as I understood them, so sometimes it's best to just keep my mouth shut.

Steven I read your story in "Gamer Fantastic". Good stuff. So are you planning on writing anymore stories of AJ and Sam?

"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world isto be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most preciousthing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heedwords unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learnthen, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and theywill lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."Alaundo of Candlekeep

"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world isto be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most preciousthing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heedwords unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learnthen, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and theywill lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."Alaundo of Candlekeep

And to keep this even mildly within the scope of FR, my site also has lots of hints and hooks for a fantasy campaign (including the Realms, if you'd want to use Kharndam as one of the Torilian continents):http://www.steveneschend.com/tag/kharndam/

bytw Steven, in Blackstaff tower, the mage in grey whose wand could paralyze.

was said mage greyhands???

nobody has told me if Waterdeep's secret police are still around...

No, I believe he was simply a member of the mages' guild, not a Greyhand. And no, I can't say one way or the other whether or not that organization still exists. They're protected by the greatest magic known: NDA harnesses.

"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world isto be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most preciousthing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heedwords unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learnthen, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and theywill lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."Alaundo of Candlekeep

bytw Steven, in Blackstaff tower, the mage in grey whose wand could paralyze.

was said mage greyhands???

nobody has told me if Waterdeep's secret police are still around...

No, I believe he was simply a member of the mages' guild, not a Greyhand. And no, I can't say one way or the other whether or not that organization still exists. They're protected by the greatest magic known: NDA harnesses.

well that answer is better than no answer.thanks Steven Shend.

btwwhen is your next book coming out???

why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power

bytw Steven, in Blackstaff tower, the mage in grey whose wand could paralyze.

was said mage greyhands???

nobody has told me if Waterdeep's secret police are still around...

No, I believe he was simply a member of the mages' guild, not a Greyhand. And no, I can't say one way or the other whether or not that organization still exists. They're protected by the greatest magic known: NDA harnesses.

Interesting.

See, I speculated previously abut a tidbit in Blackstaff Tower that made me think of the Grey Hands. 'Tis on pg. 191. A bit about all grey-robes possessing wands that allow them to paralyze or slow their opponents. This rang "Grey Hands" bells in my mind.

Steven... any thoughts on asking our own Markustay for a map of Kharndam? A world that vividly described needs a map... or maybe it's just the way my brain works, ever since reading Tolkien and being just as fascinated (if not moreso) by the maps and appendices as by the stories themselves... but that also explains why I'm such a Realmslore junkie. I'm working on building my own Arunsun-Thann-Wands genealogy, but I'm not finding enough information about relationships between characters outside of the main Arunsun line. Can you direct me to some published sources that might assist me in this quest? If it was published for the Realms and not a novel, I probably own it, but possibly don't have it with me at the moment; one notable exception is the Waterdeep Trail Map.

Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.

If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic.

It's not very often that I have the opportunity to quote myself, so I'll take every chance when it comes along:

quote:Originally posted by Jakk

Write more Blackstaff novels, Steven! Fill them with lots of tasty bits of retrospective lore!* Please and thank you!

* - preferably lore of the sort that I've been inquiring about, but any lore regarding Khelben and his family is good. (from my recent scroll in Sages of Realmslore; reposting here to make sure you get my request)

Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.

If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic.

It's not very often that I have the opportunity to quote myself, so I'll take every chance when it comes along:

quote:Originally posted by Jakk

Write more Blackstaff novels, Steven! Fill them with lots of tasty bits of retrospective lore!* Please and thank you!

* - preferably lore of the sort that I've been inquiring about, but any lore regarding Khelben and his family is good. (from my recent scroll in Sages of Realmslore; reposting here to make sure you get my request)

Thanks, Jakk. I'd love to write more BLACKSTAFF novels, but that's not in the cards at present.

Steven... any thoughts on asking our own Markustay for a map of Kharndam? A world that vividly described needs a map... or maybe it's just the way my brain works, ever since reading Tolkien and being just as fascinated (if not moreso) by the maps and appendices as by the stories themselves... but that also explains why I'm such a Realmslore junkie. I'm working on building my own Arunsun-Thann-Wands genealogy, but I'm not finding enough information about relationships between characters outside of the main Arunsun line. Can you direct me to some published sources that might assist me in this quest? If it was published for the Realms and not a novel, I probably own it, but possibly don't have it with me at the moment; one notable exception is the Waterdeep Trail Map.

I'll eventually do some rough maps of Kharndam for the site and if anyone does better versions, more power to them.

Can't help any more re: published sources of info on the geneologies, as 99% of that info only exists as my draft notes now locked under NDAs, I'm afraid.

Thanks, Jakk. I'd love to write more BLACKSTAFF novels, but that's not in the cards at present.

I would soooooooooooooo read another Blackstaff Novel.

"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world isto be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most preciousthing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heedwords unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learnthen, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and theywill lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."Alaundo of Candlekeep

Thanks for the response, Steven. No surprise re: genealogy info... I'll have to dig through the pile of published Realmslore on my own, I guess... fortunately, there are many far worse things one could be required to do.

Looking forward to seeing maps of Kharndam.

Playing in the Realms since the Old Grey Box (1987)... and *still* having fun with material published before 2008, despite the NDA'd lore.

If it's comparable in power with non-magical abilities, it's not magic.

Thanks, Jakk. I'd love to write more BLACKSTAFF novels, but that's not in the cards at present.

I would soooooooooooooo read another Blackstaff Novel.

.

I would as well

I just finished Blackstaff...now my wife is halfway through it. We both did the same thing when it came to Azure Edge...we scrambled through all the FR material we own and could find no reference to this item (?artifact?) Is this a previously mentioned item in any book or game?Thanks

"Go ahead...Sleep in the church...the vampires can't get ya in the church" Any DM...any time.

"He's like a trained ape...without the training"Simon after Jane trashed the Med lab

I just finished Blackstaff...now my wife is halfway through it. We both did the same thing when it came to Azure Edge...we scrambled through all the FR material we own and could find no reference to this item (?artifact?) Is this a previously mentioned item in any book or game?Thanks

Azuredge is fully detailed in the old City of Splendors boxed set. Page 97 of the Campaign Guide to the City. There are other references to it scattered throughout the boxed set.

Thanks, Jakk. I'd love to write more BLACKSTAFF novels, but that's not in the cards at present.

I would soooooooooooooo read another Blackstaff Novel.

.

I would as well

I just finished Blackstaff...now my wife is halfway through it. We both did the same thing when it came to Azure Edge...we scrambled through all the FR material we own and could find no reference to this item (?artifact?) Is this a previously mentioned item in any book or game?Thanks

'Azuredge' is a magical artifact that was crafted by Ahghairon in Waterdeep, and 'twas infused with the soul of the Warlord Lauroun. Steven originally set it up as an adventure hook in the 2e City of Splendors tome to:- " ... allow the PC party to get a hold of the axe to give them ties to the city and to give them an immediate, if unknown, hook with Khelben."

So I'm rereading The Lord of the Rings right now (inspired by playing a lot of Lord of the Rings Online)... I just finished The Two Towers. And it occurred to me while reading it that Treebeard and his buddies deciding to guard Orthanc is much like Turlang and his buddies guarding the site of fallen Hellgate Keep. Was this intentional?